West Lorne hoping to become 'Hockeyville'
It was an emotional community gathering in West Lorne Friday morning, as the widow of Mayor Duncan McPhail, who recently passed away, cast the first vote in the town’s bid to win the Kraft Hockeyville national contest.
“He got an email saying that West Lorne had made the final four,” Norma McPhail explained to the crowd of local dignitaries and hockey families. “So he did know, and I know he’s cheering us on. So let’s do it for Duncan, and go Comets go.”
The Kraft Hockeyville contest comes with a grand prize of $250,000 in arena upgrades and an opportunity to host a pre-season NHL game.
West Lorne Minor Hockey President Kevin Summers told CTV News, facility upgrades are long overdue.
“We’ve got a tonne of kids in our U7 program,” he explained. “Quite often we’ve got four teams trying to share two dressing rooms. We’ve only got four full-size dressing rooms,” he said.
West Lorne’s campaign is also getting some star power. In a video posted to YouTube, NHL star and former London Knight Bo Horvat said, “I had so many fond memories of playing in West Lorne and being a West Lorne Comet... it was a really special time for me, building friendships... all the public skates.... I really enjoyed those times.”
The family of the late Duncan-McPhail speaks at West Elgin arena on March 31, 2023. (Bryan Bicknell/CTV News London)
Along with West Lorne, finalists are Saint-Anselme, Que., Maple Ridge, B.C., Ste. Anne, Man.
West Elgin Councillor Bill Denning pointed out that West Lorne is the smallest of the communities in the running, but it’s something he said they’re proud of.
“West Lorne is the underdog in this competition, but just because we’re small does not mean we’re not mighty,” he said.
Voting opened Friday morning and closes at 5 p.m. on Saturday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada's 'unprecedented' fire season linked to climate change, will be the new normal: scientists
At the moment, wildfires are burning across six provinces and one territory in Canada — and they’re still spreading in what’s being called an unprecedented fire season. While firefighters work tirelessly to battle the merciless flames and prevent further destruction, scientists say the wildfires are linked to climate change and that this will be the new normal.
Trudeau raises Poland's democratic backsliding as prime minister visits Toronto
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he raised concerns about reports that LGBTQ2S+ rights and democracy are under threat in Poland during a Friday visit with its prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, in Toronto.
Air Canada says to expect further travel disruptions following Thursday's IT issues
Air Canada says travellers should be prepared for further flight disruptions as it works to return service to normal following a technical malfunction Thursday.
'Torch has been passed': What younger generations need to know about inheriting a family cottage
As more Canadians pass their family cottages down to the next generation, 'major shifts' in the ownership of recreational homes will occur, according to Re/Max. But amid concerns around the cost of housing, some may be wondering whether they can afford to keep that family cottage. Here's what younger generations need to know about inheriting a recreational property and the market today.
'Utterly disgusting': Canadian Army sergeant fined for 'anti-Jewish' comments
A 38-year-old sergeant in the Canadian Army was fined $3,000 and issued a severe reprimand after he made what a military judge described as 'utterly disgusting' anti-Jewish comments while conducting an infantry training course in 2021.
Poilievre tries to head off PPC vote as Bernier bets on social conservatives
Pierre Poilievre is off to Manitoba to rally Conservative supporters ahead of a byelection that Maxime Bernier is hoping will send him back to Parliament. The far-right People's Party of Canada leader lost his Quebec seat in the 2019 federal vote and lost again in the 2021 election.
Experts warn of 'rapid' growth of IBD as number of Canadians diagnosed set to reach 470K by 2035
The number of people in Canada with inflammatory bowel disease is increasing rapidly and is expected to grow to 470,000 by 2035, according to a new report from Crohn's and Colitis Canada.
Trudeau continues to stand by David Johnston despite calls that he step down
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he is committed to keeping David Johnston in place as Canada's special rapporteur on foreign interference, despite a majority of MPs voting in favour of his stepping down from the gig.
Camping during fire season? Here's some things you should know
With dry conditions preventing people from having campfires across the country, some may wonder what they can bring into a campground or if there are alternatives to the traditional flames.
Kitchener
-
BREAKING
BREAKING | Woman airlifted after crash near Wallenstein
A woman in her 80s has been rushed to hospital with critical injuries after a crash near Wallenstein, according to Orgne Air Ambulance.
-
Oil spill clean up underway after dump truck and combine collide on rural road
Waterloo regional police say crews are working to contain an oil/gas spill after a crash in Wellesley Township that sent one person to hospital.
-
Ont. seniors’ home adopts pair of ducklings for animal therapy program
A long-term care home in Fergus, Ont. has adopted two ducklings as part of an animal therapy program to give its residents a sense of purpose.
Windsor
-
Defence concludes closing summations in Windsor murder trial
The defence has completed its closing summations in an ongoing Windsor murder trial involving the shooting death of 20-year-old Madisen Gingras in April of 2020.
-
Police investigation at Highway 401 near Provincial Road
Essex County OPP are on scene of an active investigation in Tecumseh.
-
Off-duty Windsor police officer charged with assault after Toronto incident
An off-duty Windsor police officer has been charged with assault following an altercation in Toronto.
Barrie
-
BREAKING
BREAKING | Alleged gang members charged with shooting innocent man 13 times in Schomberg
Police charged three men, believed to be members of a street gang, with the attempted murder of a 65-year-old man who was shot 13 times while walking his dog in Schomberg in February.
-
Hunter fined $8,000, licence suspension after shooting at deer decoy in Muskoka
A hunter from Mactier is facing an $8,000 fine after pleading guilty to trespassing and shooting from a roadway in Muskoka.
-
Sewing needles found at 2nd Bracebridge beach, prompting closure
A popular beach in Bracebridge is open to the public two days after sewing needles were found in the water, but a second beach has since closed over safety concerns.
Northern Ontario
-
Outdoor patio return to downtown Sudbury amid the hot weather
There will be a lot of music, revelry and fun in downtown Sudbury on Friday evening as the Downtown Sudbury Business Improvement Association launches its 'Ultimate Summer Kick-Off' Party. For many, it also marks the unofficial start to patio season.
-
Three charged in northern Ont. for having campfire during fire ban
Three people have been charged this week after having campfires during the fire ban and one person could be fined up to $25,000 or face jail time.
-
Sewing needles found at 2nd Bracebridge beach, prompting closure
A popular beach in Bracebridge is open to the public two days after sewing needles were found in the water, but a second beach has since closed over safety concerns.
Ottawa
-
HEAT WARNING
HEAT WARNING | Hottest June 2 in Ottawa history, with relief on the way this weekend
A heat warning and a severe thunderstorm watch are in effect for Ottawa. Relief from the hot and humid temperatures is on the way for the weekend.
-
Man arrested after hidden camera found in washroom at Gatineau, Que. elementary school
Gatineau police arrested an 18-year-old man in connection to the investigation into a hidden camera discovered in the washroom at an elementary school.
-
Increased air conditioning use likely to blame for hydro outage in Ottawa's west end, utility says
Residents turning up the air conditioners on the hottest June 1 in Ottawa history likely caused hydro systems to overload, knocking out power to customers in the west end, Hydro Ottawa says.
Toronto
-
BREAKING
BREAKING | Notorious serial killer Paul Bernardo moved to medium-security prison in Quebec
Notorious serial rapist and killer Paul Bernardo has been moved to a medium-security prison in Quebec this week, a source tells CTV News Toronto.
-
3 men allegedly part of 'MS-13' street gang charged with shooting of Schomberg dog walker
Three Toronto men have been charged with attempted murder after they allegedly shot an innocent dog walker in Schomberg, Ont. in a case of mistaken identity.
-
Hundreds of people claim they may have lost winning ticket for expiring $70M Lotto Max prize
Hundreds of people have come forward to claim they could be the winner of the expiring $70 million Lotto Max prize.
Montreal
-
BREAKING
BREAKING | Notorious serial killer Paul Bernardo moved to medium-security prison in Quebec
Notorious serial rapist and killer Paul Bernardo has been moved to a medium-security prison in Quebec this week, a source tells CTV News Toronto.
-
Montreal police find body of teen missing since October
Montreal police (SPVM) said on Friday that the body of Feng Tian, 17, was found lifeless in Contrecoeur. A $20,000 reward was offered to anyone with information about the teenager's whereabouts after he went missing from his Notre-Dame-de-Grace (NDG) neighbourhood in October of last year.
-
Check for ticks after going to the park, says Montreal woman with Lyme disease
Planning to pass time in Montreal's many parks this summer? Check yourself for ticks, warns one woman who recently contracted Lyme disease. Jasmine Rochereul, 23, says she spent much of last summer sprawled in city parks, where she believes she picked up the tick-borne illness.
Atlantic
-
'Many, many lives turned upside down' by wildfires: N.S. premier
Nova Scotia’s premier says the “historic” wildfires in the province have caused a “breath-taking amount of damage.”
-
Tantallon-area residents who lost homes in N.S. wildfire offered chance to view neighbourhood
Halifax is offering residents whose homes have been destroyed by wildfires the chance to view their neighbourhoods as fires continue to burn.
-
'This thing has grown some teeth': Shelburne County wildfire growing, still out-of-control
The largest wildfire in Nova Scotia now covers over 21,000 hectares in Shelburne County.
Winnipeg
-
DEVELOPING
DEVELOPING | School in hold and secure after crash, possible assault: police
A school in Winnipeg has been placed into a hold and secure.
-
Experts say these are the red flags to look out for when buying a flipped house
A Winnipeg man who bought a flipped home two years ago says some hidden problems have bubbled up to the surface – in some cases quite literally.
-
Statue of Queen Elizabeth repaired and reinstalled at Manitoba legislature, 2 years after vandalism
A bronze statue of Queen Elizabeth that was toppled and damaged by protesters two years ago was put back in its place Friday on the grounds of the Manitoba legislature after a lengthy set of repairs.
Calgary
-
Increased sheriff pilot program comes to an end in Calgary – for now
A dozen sheriffs and Calgary Police officers roamed Calgary's core for three months, but the provincial pilot program is officially over as of this week.
-
Boil water advisory in effect for 3 Calgary communities
Three southwest Calgary communities are under a boil water advisory due to a watermain break Thursday afternoon at a nearby construction site.
-
Car falls on man in southeast Calgary, critically injuring him
Calgary paramedics rushed one man to hospital on Friday after a vehicle fell on him in the community of Dover.
Edmonton
-
Edmonton teen bystander shot in downtown shooting during 'altercation': police
A teen bystander was shot during an altercation outside the Edmonton Convention Centre Thursday evening, police say.
-
13-year-old girl attacked by stranger near Mill Creek Ravine
Edmonton police are searching for the man who attacked a young girl near Mill Creek Ravine Tuesday morning.
-
1 killed in crash in northern Alberta, woman and toddler airlifted to hospital
One person is dead after a crash in Fairview, Alta., on Wednesday.
Vancouver
-
Man caught on video berating Tim Horton’s staff charged: Surrey RCMP
A 31-year-old man caught on video berating staff at a Surrey drive-thru earlier this year has been charged, according to Mounties.
-
2 injured in 'targeted' Downtown Eastside shooting: VPD
Police in Vancouver say they were met with a "chaotic scene" when called to respond to reports of shots fired on the Downtown Eastside Thursday.
-
1 in 5 British Columbians know someone who has died from opioid drug use: poll
A new poll is shedding light on just how many British Columbians are being impacted by the toxic drug crisis.